Universal electric plug or connecter



April 3, 1934. .1. E. MORRIS UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC PLUG- OR CONNECTER Filed May 51. 1932 muesli 21101 1 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT O'FFECE UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC PLUG OR CONNECTER- 2 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a device to be substituted for the conventional electric plug or connecter, so that free movement of the connected cord will be permitted laterally in all directions or twisting prevented, even though the cord be subjected to the turning that usually results in twisting; to provide a connecter or plug of the kind indicated in which the electrical contact is maintained between current carrying parts, in all positions of the parts relative to each other; and to provide a connecter of the universal form which is simple in construction and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing but to which embodiment the invention is not to be restricted; Continned use in practice may dictate certain changes or alterations and the right is claimed to make any falling within the scope of the annexed claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, the section being taken on the dividing line between the separable elements comprised in the invention.

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the structure shown in Figure 1, viewed from a point at right angles from that in which the structure of Figure 1 is viewed.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views on the planes indicated by the lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 1.

The connecter comprises the terminal globular members 10 and 11 and a connecting member 12 formed with globular terminals 14 which are received within the terminal globular members 10 and 11.

The terminal members 10 and 11 comprise complemental sections 10 and 10 which are detachably secured together, the detachable connection being effected by means of attaching screws or fasteners passed through the webs 15 formed integral with the hubs 16. At points di ametrically opposite the hubs, the globular members are left open by reason of the omission of the spherical zone at this location and thus the shank portion of the connecter is permitted free movement with respect to the terminal members, anywhere within the area of this zone. The terminal globular members of the connecter are likewise formed with an omitted zone to provide clearance space within the terminal globular members to permit the relative movement between them and the connecting member.

The connecting member 12 is likewise formed of complemental elements 12 and 12 whose shanks are formed with complemental ears 1'! through which screws or other fasteners are passed to secure the elements together.

Interior to the globular or spherical terminals of the connecting member there are the conductor strips 18 which cover the interior surface or" the spherical terminals and pass through the shank portion of the connecter, in which latter portion they are disposed in surrounding relation to an insulating bushing 19.

The insulating bushing 19 encloses the shank 7g or stem 20 of a metallic connecter whose spherical terminals 21 are disposed concentrically in the spherical terminals of the connecting mem ber 12.

The globular terminals 10 and 11 and the con- 7 necting member 12 are of insulating material, such as the conventionally known Bakelite or its equivalent, as is also the bushing 19. Thus when the elements of these parts are connected together by their fasteners or screws, the con- 30 necter embodying the spheres 21 and shank 20, and the conductor strips 18 are fully enclosed.

A metallic spherical member 22 is carried by each terminal globular or spherical member 10 and 11 and is enclosed by the same and by the 35 spherical terminals of the connecting member 12, so that the conductor members 18 may bear exteriorly upon it. These metallic spherical members are extended into the hub portions of the terminal globular members and a binding screw 23 connected with one constitutes the post for the connection of one of the conductors of the flexible cord, while the prong 24 connected with or formed as an extension of the other constitutes one of the pair of receptacle receiving prongs. Insulating bushings 25 are carried in the hub portions of the globular members 10 and 11 but interic-r to the sleeve portions of the metallic globular members 22, so that they may receive the shanks of the hollow spherical members 26 which embrace the spherical terminals 21 of the metallic connecter. The shanks of the hollow spherical members 26 are also hollow and house brushes 27, spring-pressed, as indicated at 28, 105 against the spherical terminals 21 and the one shank is provided with a binding post 29 to which the other terminal of the flexible cord or conductor may be connected, while the shank of the other is connected with the prong 30 which con- '110 stitutes the other of the receptacle engaging prongs.

To make it unnecessary to brace or otherwise secure the prong to the shank of its connected spherical member 26, a screw 31 is threaded radially through the bushing 25 and into the prong 30.

Except the spherical terminals 21 of the interior metallic connecter, all of the remaining spherical parts consist of connected hemispherical elements when the device is assembled.

At that end of the plug or connecter where connection is made to the flexible cord conductor, a guard spring 32 may be mounted to prevent bending of the flexible cord at the point where it enters the connecter or plug.

Removal of the fasteners connecting the Webs 15 of complemental elements, and removal of the fasteners connecting the ears 17 of complemental elements, permits the complete disassembling of the device, for replacement of any parts, or for making the connections with the binding posts 23 and 29 when the device is first put into use.

A sembled, howeven, free movement of the terminal portions relative to each other, either laterally, angularly or by rotation on their own axes, is possible, electrical continuity being unbroken in such movements by reason of the con necting spherical elements which provide for this universal movement.

By constructing the invention in multiple sets of spherical members, a double universal joint is thus provided. Since the angular movement of the members in the single joint is more or less limited, the extension of this arrangement into a double joint will double the amount of angular lateral movement of which it is capable. Thus, the cord carrying end of the plug may be swung laterally of the prong carrying end to a position with respect to the prong carrying end of ninety degrees or less.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

l. A device for the purpose indicated compris ing terminal spherical members of insulating material, a connecting member of insulating material having spherical terminals enclosed by said members, a conducting member interior to said connecting member and. having spherical terminals disposed in the spherical terminals of said connecting member, spherical conducting members carried by the spherical terminal members and embraced by the spherical terminals of said conducting member, and a second conducting member interior to the first but insulated therefrom and provided with spherical terminals, and a second set of conducting spherical terminal members carried one each by the first said terminal members and embracing the spherical terminals of the last said conducting members.

2. A device for the purpose indicated comprising terminal spherical members of insulating material, a connecting member of insulating material having spherical terminals enclosed by said members, a conducting member interior to said connecting member and having spherical terminals disposed in the spherical terminals of said connecting member, spherical conducting members carried by the spherical terminal members and embraced by the spherical terminals of said conducting member, and a second conducting member, interior to the first but insulated therefrom and provided with spherical terminals, and a second set of conducting spherical terminal members carried one each by the first said terminal members and embracing the spherical terminals of the last said conducting members, said terminal connecting and conducting members comprising complemental half sections, and means for securing the same together.

JAlVlES E. MORRIS. 

